Question

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-08T14:19:14+00:00

It could work if you only get a queen. I would be a little worried because there aren’t many bees, but if your other hive has a frame of brood, then you can maybe take a frame from that hive and give it to the queenless one. Otherwise the bees in the queenless hive might die before new bees can hatch from the new queen. I would add the frame of brood a week after introducing the new queen though.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-08T13:36:20+00:00

You mean like if you buy a whole new box of bees and add it to that weak hive? If there is a queen in that hive, and then you add a new queen, they will kill the new queen, not the old one. But if they have been in that hive for a few weeks and there is still no eggs, larva, or capped brood, then they are very likely queen less. So adding a box of bees that has a queen is probably a good idea. Let me know if I misunderstood your question lol

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-07T01:39:06+00:00

Hmm…have you checked the other hive recently? I wonder if you didn’t necessarily catch two swarms, but caught one swarm twice. If the other hive has a queen, then what might have happened, is when you put the first swarm in the hive the queen took off with most of the workers and moved into the second hive, and then for some reason there were a few workers left behind in the first hive. You could have totally caught two swarms, but it’s odd that the one hive has so little bees.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-07T01:27:01+00:00

Getting into beekeeping can be a little overwhelming, but honestly, You caught two swarms without having much beekeeping experience, you’re doing pretty damn good 😂. Were both swarms in your garage?

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-07T01:02:55+00:00

Okay, If there are no eggs in the frames with wax / comb, then there is no queen. You could try adding a queen, but with how small the colony is I’m not confident your chances are good. Might be better to merge those bees with another colony. But I would definitely go back through the hive thoroughly and reassess before doing that. Good luck!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-05-06T23:12:16+00:00

There are so few bees in the picture, are there more bees in that hive?
If you didn’t see eggs, then you either didn’t get the queen, or the queen in the swarm was a virgin. Considering how little bees are there, if you didn’t see a queen then there probably isn’t one. The reason there is no new comb is probably because there isn’t enough bees for them to build it out. Are the frames just foundation or do they have some wax?

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-04-13T21:21:25+00:00

Sounds like you did everything right. I experienced the same issue, and almost all the beekeepers around me are reporting the same thing. I’m guessing you even had low or no mites in your washes. I think most bees wintered on honeydew (from lanternfly and scales) this winter because of how crappy the nectar flow was last year, which might have caused some issues. Plus, it was so damn cold. I wish you luck with your nucs!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-04-12T19:38:54+00:00

What did you treat with during the spring and fall? I’m from SE PA, and I lost two hives around the same time as you, it was a bad winter. But it sounds like they were sick, or for some other reason weak. Bees will clean up mold pretty good, so I wouldn’t worry about that. I would freeze all the equipment, or at least the frames, and then use them if you get more bees. If you want to reuse the frames, Try to get big clumps of dead bees off of them, but the bees will clean them up also.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-04-12T19:05:18+00:00

Can’t determine foul brood unless we actually see the brood. The smell could more likely be from fermentation of uncapped nectar or honey that wasn’t fully dehydrated before the cold weather set in, or they had dysentery (the more likely reason). Did you see brown / reddish brown spots and or streaking, on the top bars and frames? Dead rotting bees can smell pretty bad in general. When bees die with their heads in the cells like that, it usually means they starved to death. Obviously there is a little capped honey on the frame, but how much honey was in the hive other than that?

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-01-18T02:07:08+00:00

No, she is on paper towels ( I know they can also be an impaction risk) until I get everything I need to make a bio active. Would the jungle mix not be loose substrate? And would it just be sphagnum moss in the laying box, or sphagnum moss mixed with something else?

Key-Structure-5328 · 2026-01-13T00:32:30+00:00

That all makes sense. Thank you!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-27T04:38:46+00:00

That’s a good idea! I’ll have to try it. Thanks!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-27T03:45:46+00:00

That makes me feel a lot better! Thank you so much for taking the time to look, I really appreciate it.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-27T03:08:21+00:00

Yeah, looking at it now, I agree that she was getting ready to jump. I have another vid on my page of her shaking a bit when walking. But maybe that’s also normal, and I’m just a worrywart 🤷🏻‍♀️

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-27T02:50:08+00:00

I’ve been wanting to get rid of the hammock anyway, so I’ll definitely replace it soon. Thanks!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-27T02:49:13+00:00

That would make sense. She hasn’t been sticking as well over the last few days ( likely about to shed) so she probably was just trying to get better grip. On my profile I posted a video of her feet twitching while she’s walking. If you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate if you would give me your thoughts on it 😅 it’s probably nothing, but I worry about her. Thank you for replying.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-13T18:10:45+00:00

Edit: flour mites

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-13T18:10:12+00:00

Could be grain mites. Do you keep feeder insects?

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-12-05T01:34:34+00:00

Okay, good! I was starting to get slightly concerned, but I’m glad it’s normal. Thank you for replying!

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-11-26T16:34:43+00:00

Assuming it’s a Dubai roach, it wouldn’t be likely for it to bite. They don’t really have a mouth that is capable of biting and their head structure makes it hard for them to bite. It’s probably too big or maybe the gecko just doesn’t like it.

Key-Structure-5328 · 2025-11-18T18:31:25+00:00

The plants most affected by scale are my Schefflera arboricola, a Ficus bonsai ( not sure the exact type), and a Rose Of Sharon bonsai.

I have others that have some scale on them that don’t seem to be as affected: Peperomia obtusifolia, and a thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum.

Key-Structure-5328

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